Samantha, or “Young’n” was diagnosed nine years ago, at age 21, with Parkinson’s disease. She graduated from college with a degree in education, and recently relocated to Florida from Wisconsin. She loves to travel and is obsessed with Disney. Fun fact: The person who owned her house last was part of the Disney family!Every November brings a rush of emotions for me, and Nov. 1 and 21 are the most emotional of all. On Nov. 1, 2011, my grandfather passed away. We had a close relationship, and losing him was absolutely devastating. Twenty days later, I was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at…
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Congratulations! We made it to 2023! This is our year to turn our lives around. It’s time for us to make our New Year’s resolutions. I challenge you to choose any number of aspects of life with Parkinson’s that you want to improve upon in the coming year. The…
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the world doesn’t stop when you get Parkinson’s disease. Life keeps going, and you simply have to try to keep up. Even though you have this disease, it shouldn’t stop you from living your life. For me, this meant not giving up traveling…
As I close my eyes, my body gears up for the night’s adventures, which begin to appear in a whirlwind of color. Buildings tower above me, reflecting the warm sun in the sky. I see people walking in and out of them. I feel as if I am actually in…
I recently had a FaceTime conversation with Brittany Dunnum, a speech therapist in Lewiston, Idaho, who works with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and utilizes methods developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project. I met her in Washington, D.C., at the 2019 Parkinson’s Policy Forum sponsored by The Michael…
I often get asked if a person can drive after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The answer is yes. Some are able to drive for many years after a diagnosis. However, we must consider the safety of everyone on the road, including ourselves. The last thing we want is…
As Parkinson’s patients, we’re often told that we should exercise regularly. Exercise offers us many physical and mental health benefits and may help slow disease progression. A variety of exercise programs and classes have been designed specifically for Parkinson’s patients, ranging from boxing to tai chi to dancing. Talk…
Spring is finally here, and when I think spring, I think baseball. Just like in baseball, where each team has a roster of players, Parkinson’s patients have their own teams of professionals in their lineup. Let me tell you about my team and its batting order. For my team, the…
When a person advocates for themselves, they can achieve great things. I recently had a conversation with an advocate for the Parkinson’s Foundation, Ann Kopf. Ann lives in Milwaukee and works with different staff members in the foundation to support others with Parkinson’s. I emailed her to learn more…
Do you see or hear things that others don’t? According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 20–40% of Parkinson’s patients say they’ve experienced hallucinations or delusions. The foundation’s website states, “Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears or feels something that is not actually there.” Unlike dreams, these episodes occur when the…
The word “advocacy” alone can send people running for the hills. I’ll admit, when I first decided to advocate for those of us with Parkinson’s disease, I was a little scared. Because I’m only 31 (and look 16!), I didn’t think anyone would take me seriously, and I certainly didn’t…
I’m back! Not just figuratively, but also literally. I recently took some time off to get my health in check. I was in the process of changing medications, and my neurologist had warned me that I might have side effects or withdrawal symptoms. Boy, was he right. He had been…
“I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it. I like to move it!” These dance tune lyrics, interpreted in the animated children’s movie “Madagascar,” reflect an unfortunate reality for many Parkinson’s patients. Some Parkinson’s patients appear to be constantly moving, which is known in…
When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at a young age, many thoughts swirl through their head. Once the dust starts to settle, they’ll likely start thinking about their career. Will they be able to continue working? If so, how long? What will happen when they can’t? Will they…
Dear Parkinson’s disease (PD), Wow, I can’t believe that we’ve been together for nearly 10 years. Our relationship has been a roller-coaster ride, that’s for sure. We’ve had our ups and downs — well, mostly downs when you’re around. It’s time for me to take a stand and tell you…
Imagine moving to a brand-new town, thousands of miles away from anyone you know. How would you feel after a few days? Weeks? Months? The feeling of isolation that might gnaw at your heart is similar to what many of us with Parkinson’s disease experience, especially when diagnosed at a…
I would like to welcome back my dad, Craig Barbian. Since our discussion in a two-part series last June was so well received, I thought it would be a neat follow-up to have him share more of his perspective by writing today’s column. Take it away, Dad!…
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